"I was still nervous" - Ryan Blaney reveals his starstruck moment with Daisy Ridley at the ESPYs

NASCAR driver Ryan Blaney had a memorable encounter with Daisy Ridley a little while back at the ESPYs. In a recent interview, he revealed his continued starstruck feelings about meeting the star from his favorite movie franchise.

The 2023 NASCAR Cup Series champion is a huge Star Wars fan and had previously met Ridley seven years ago at a Los Angeles Lakers game.

Ryan Blaney was photographed again with English actress Daisy Ridley, who is best known for her performance as 'Rey' in the Star Wars movie franchise. They met at this year’s ESPY Awards at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

When asked about her second meeting with Ridley during '12 questions' with The Athletic, Blaney shared his experience.

“And then when I saw her again at the ESPYs... I was still pretty nervous. She was in conversation with somebody when we were backstage, so I just waited around and kept peeking over like, 'Are you done with your conversation?' Because I don’t want to butt into a conversation and interrupt anybody.” he said.

Ryan Blaney posted a photo of them together on X with the caption:

"I met a Jedi again."

He first met the "Star Wars" actress seven years ago at an NBA game in Los Angeles with fellow driver Darrell Wallace Jr. Blaney spotted Ridley and decided to ask for a photo.

“I said, ‘I hate to do this, I hate to be this guy, but can I get a picture please?’” Blaney said.

“She was very nice and took the picture with me,” he added.

Ryan Blaney didn’t mention his NASCAR career to Ridley.

“I didn’t even tell her my name. She doesn’t care who I am,” he said earlier.

His recent encounter with her was similar as he simply asked for a photograph, said good night, and walked away.

"So it was really no different. The only thing that was different from seven years ago is I’m engaged now. (Laughs) But it was the same thing, and it was funny that seven years later, it happened again," he said (The Athletic).

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Ryan Blaney on the challenges of NASCAR racing

When asked about a NASCAR opinion that the fans don't share in the same interview, Ryan Blaney said:

“How hard it is. And that’s with any professional sport.”

He compared it to other sports, saying:

“I have no idea what it’s like to try and hit a 100-mile-per-hour fastball. I know it’s extremely difficult, but I have never put myself in those shoes. It’s the same with racing. You don’t know how difficult it is to try to be on the edge of control every lap without stepping over it."

"Anyone can drive a race car, but how the heck do you go faster than everybody else? That’s the hardest part about it, is trying to find that grip and limit. People who don’t race don’t have that experience of actually how difficult it is to be good and successful as a race car driver," he added.

Currently ranked 5th in the Cup Series with two wins this season, Blaney hopes to stay strong going into the playoffs. The 30-year-old nearly won at Brickyard 400 but regrets his angry radio outburst from afterward.